Baby born 11 weeks early as parents travel for out-of-state baby shower

A Kentucky couple who traveled to Ohio for their baby shower got a big surprise when their baby came 11 weeks early. However, thanks to their proximity to the NICU services at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, their infant son was able to get the medical care he needed, and after 63 days in the NICU, he was discharged in time for Christmas.

Key Takeaways:

• Baby Sixx was born 11 weeks early, weighing just over three pounds at birth.

• His mom, Dylan, went into labor while visiting family in Cleveland, allowing Sixx to be cared for at the Level III NICU at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.

• After 63 days in the NICU, Sixx and his family were able to go home for Christmas.

The Details:

Dylan Carter and Drew Kline, who live in Bowling Green, Kentucky, traveled to Cleveland in October to attend a baby shower thrown by family members for the couple's first child. However, during the trip, mom Dylan unexpectedly went into labor — more than two months early.

Dylan said she had been experiencing intermittent pain for weeks, but dismissed the feeling as Braxton Hicks contractions. However, on the seven-hour car trip from her Kentucky home to Cleveland, she became increasingly uncomfortable. After she arrived at the home of Drew's family, the pain increased. Finally, she recognized that she was experiencing contractions, and they were continuing in frequency.

“I looked at Drew’s mom and said, ‘Something is wrong. We need to go somewhere,’” Dylan said. “I didn’t realize I had been in active labor all day.”

Thankfully, the couple's journey to Ohio meant they were in close proximity to Cleveland Clinic Akron General. There, son Sixx was born 11 weeks early, weighing just over three pounds. Due to his early arrival, he needed specialized care at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Level III NICU. Had they been at home in Bowling Green, they would have had to travel to Nashville for a Level III NICU — a journey of more than one hour.

“It went super fast. My water broke, did a lot of crazy things but a little after midnight he was born,” Dylan told WJW Cleveland.

According to a Cleveland Clinic press release, Dylan was born with a rare condition called uterus didelphys — meaning she was born with two uteruses — that increased the likelihood of her having a preterm birth.

“I knew he might come early, but not two months early,” she explained.  “I was scared because I was afraid his body wasn’t ready yet.”

Sixx had a number of medical issues to overcome, in part due to his early arrival.

“We would just pray and lean on each other and trust the care team to do the best for him.  And they did. They did amazing work with him. We really leaned on them as well,” said Dylan.

The Bottom Line:

After 63 days in the NICU, baby Sixx and his family were able to return home, just in time for Christmas. His parents praised the hospital staff for the attention and care he received.

“I was so sad he was struggling,” Dylan said. “But I’m incredibly grateful he received all the care he needed.”